Quite vanquish'd him; then burst his mighty heart: Even at the base of Pompy's statue, Which all the while ran blood, great Cæsar fell. Here is himself, marr'd, as you see, by traitors. Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up To any sudden flood of mutiny. They that have done this deed are honourable. I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts; But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man, That loves my friend: and that they know full well SHAKSPEARE. CHAP. XXVI. THE QUARREL OF BRUTUS AND CASSIUS. CAS. THAT you have wrong'd me doth appear in this, You have condemn'd and noted Lucius Pella, For taking bribes here of the Sardians; Wherein my letter (praying on his side, Because I knew the man) was slighted of. BRU. You wrong'd yourself to write in such a case: CAS. In such a time as this, it is not meet That ev'ry nice offence should bear its comment. BRU. Yet let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself Are much condemned to have an itching palm, To sell and mart your offices for gold, To undeservers. CAS. I an itching palm? You know, that you are Brutus that spake this, CAS. Chastisement! BRU. Remember March, the ides of March remember! Did not great Julius bleed for justice sake? What villain touchd his body, that did stab, And not for justice? What, shall one of us, That struck the foremost man of all this world, But for supporting robbers; shall we now Contaminate our fingers with base bribes? And sell the mighty meed of our large honours For so much trash, as may be grasped thus? I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon, Than such a Roman. CAS. Brutus, bay not me, I'll not endure it; you forgot yourself, Older in practice, abler than yourself To make conditions. BRU. Go to; you are not, Cassius. CAS. I am. BRU. I say, you are not. CAS. Urge me no more, I shall forget myselfHave mind upon your health-tempt me no farther. BRU. Away slight man! CAS. Is't possible ? BRU. Hear me, for I will speak. Must I give way and room to your rash choler? CAS. O gods! ye gods! must I endure all this? Go, tell heart break; your slaves how choleric you are, And make your bondmen tremble. Must I budge? CAS. Is it come to this? BRU. You say, you are a better soldier; Let it appear so; make your vaunting true, Cas. You wrong me every way Brutus ; I said, an elder soldier, nor a better; Did I say better? Bru. If you did, I care not. -you wrong me, Cas. When Cæsar liv'd, he durst not thus have mov’d me. Bru. Peace, peace, you durst not so have tempted Cas. I durst not? Bru. No. Cas. What? durst not tempt him? Cas. Do not presume too much upon my love; I may do what I shall be sorry for. Bru. You have done that you should be sorry for. There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats; For I am arm'd so strong in honesty, That they pass by me, as the idle wind, For certain sums of gold, which you deny'd me; By heav'n, I had rather coin my heart, And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring To you for gold to pay my legions, Which you denied me; was that done like Cassius? Cas. I deny'd you not. Bru. You did. Cas. I did not-he was but a fool That brought my answer back. heart. -Brutus hath riv'd my A friend should bear a friend's infirmities, Still you practise them on me. Cas. You love me not. Bru. I do not like your faults. Cas. A friendly eye could never see such faults. Bru. A flatt'rer's would not, though they do appear As huge as high Olympus. Cas. Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come! Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius For Cassius is a weary of the world ; Hated by one he loves; brav'd by his brother; My spirit from mine eyes!There is my dagger, When thou didst hate him worst, thou lov'd'st him better Than ever thou lov'd'st Cassius. Bru. Sheathe your dagger; Be angry when you will, it shall have scope; Cas. Hath Cassius liv'd To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus, When grief, and blood ill-temper'd vexeth him ? Cas, Brutus ! Bru. What's the matter? Cas. Have you not love enough to bear with me, When that rash humour which my mother gave me, Makes me forgetful? Bru. Yes, Cassius, and from henceforth When you are over-earnest with your Brutus, SHAKSPEARE. |